Building a lather

As I was building a luxurious lather using my CRSW Bergamont & Bay I was thinking to myself I can make a usable lather out of anything
Then I got to thinking, hmm how long did it take me to get there.
I've been shaving with soap/creams and a brush for a few years. Being honest, I think it took me at least a year to be proficient at making a lather.
When I thought of it that way, it at first made me sad
... then made me hum a tune concerning all the soaps I could haved loved before....that traveled in and out my door. That made me a little happier.

I'm sure it's didferent for everyone, but what says you of how long to be a good lathermaker (if you are there yet)?

My biggest issue with a good lather is "drying out." My lather tends to be good in size and consistency but it dehydrates and dries too fast. Not really sure how to correct this (other than more water) but then again, I've been at this for only a few years.

I have re visited soaps that I did not think too highly of before . My lathering technique must have improved over time and these formerly unloved soaps are now decent performers. It is all about getting the water to soap ratio right for that particular soap. Load lots of soap and add enough water then you will have tons of non drying lather.

Bob

I am still learning.

Jaque Pepin has a cooking episode making a souffle. I watched his vigorous whipping the mix with a spoon and went AHHHHHH!!!!!!! that's the secret. Then I added 4 cubes of butter and had to start over.

(10-11-2016, 07:17 AM)kav Wrote: Jaque Pepin has a cooking episode making a souffle. I watched his vigorous whipping the mix with a spoon and went AHHHHHH!!!!!!! that's the secret. Then I added 4 cubes of butter and had to start over.

lol

(10-11-2016, 05:51 AM)celestino Wrote: I am still learning.

+1

I feel I'm quite experienced in making lather by now.

I started with my first shaving cream in late 90's and did a very poor job with my only brush back then, a Pils 3-band badger, way overpriced, but got it for 50% off.

Then went back to canned goo and the occasional shaving cream usage up until 2011.

In 2011 I offcially went on the wet shaving train and joined the forums.

I would say, that I still can learn a bit here and there, if I use a new soap, but I'm getting quite good at it now 

The soap brands in my regular rotation, I would say I own 30-40 different brands of soaps (some brands I own 1-2 from, other I own 25+ from), I feel I'm pretty constantly good at lathering up by now.

Still have the occasional soaps, that I simply have to give up on. Last it happened was with two different pucks of Lea Classic hard soap. Impossible for me to lather well, no matter how much soaps I out on the brush - loaded the brush so lather filled up the eintire knot, yet when I started to face lather, the lather went thin and dust like in a matter of 1 minute.

MWF never gives me problems any longer. I get a thick lather from it now.

As Celestino humbly says, I'm still learning, but I feel I'm quite good at it by now 

merkur man Nathan showed me the way.  also going bonzo on the loading helped.  nookers always step up and help

I have been having problems building lather with a particular soap that is well loved. One of the suggestions was to load more product. I realized that I was loading about half as long as others suggested. Wow!!! What a difference. I truly thought I was using enough product. Now I know otherwise.

-Mark

All lather problems are generally solved or helped with starting slightly drier adding more product and incorporating more water over time. This method usually gives gents a good idea of where things need to be and how they look. Sometimes I don't shake the brush out and go with a wet brush sometimes I start dry and go from there I like to keep things interesting. I still need to work on getting soft water into my shaves and see where that takes things. It took me a long time t learn how to create slick lather as I shaved DE for a while in the beginning. When I started straight razor shaving I found thin slick lather was where I needed to be.

(10-11-2016, 05:51 AM)celestino Wrote: I am still learning.

+1

Just during my last shave I realised (after discussions with a friend), that the speed of swirling during the loading process can have a huge impact on the lather...

(10-11-2016, 08:12 AM)daveinsweethome Wrote: merkur man Nathan showed me the way.

Nathan's videos are the only guide you need for great lather

(10-11-2016, 08:12 AM)daveinsweethome Wrote: merkur man Nathan showed me the way.  also going bonzo on the loading helped.  nookers always step up and help

Amen, that method was extremely useful for me! As is the loading more than you think you need or want.

(10-11-2016, 07:54 PM)alfredus Wrote: Just during my last shave I realised (after discussions with a friend), that the speed of swirling during the loading process can have a huge impact on the lather...

Like making a classic French omelette-vigorous motion at first, then gentle at the end...



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+1 on still learning and kudos to Nathan.

While I'm comfortable with my technique, I still have lots to learn. I still laugh at how little product I loaded in the beginning.

I went at least 2 years without really knowing what I was doing. I could make a lather like substance which worked but only in the last 6 months have I really started to get full potential out of my soaps. I suppose it is a little sad to have squandered those couple years but much like golf I'll never be done learning (or rather, trying to get better).